Wednesday, January 25, 2012

33 New Things: Do A Polar Plunge

Every year I make a list of new things I want to try and do. Some of those things are challenging, some are shockingly mundane. You can check out previous shenanigans here.

In case you were wondering how to impress/terrify everyone at a New Year's Eve party, your answer is this:

Tell them you're going to jump into a frozen lake at 9:00 am the next morning.

All the men will inadvertently clutch their nether regions and the women will probably narrow their eyes at your over their beer.

But here's the thing, you guys: It's not really that bad or hard or scary.

There is no talent or fitness required (you just fall/jump into about eight feet of water), you duck under a rope and swim about 20 feet. You climb up a slippery ladder, you're cold and then you're inside and totally warmed up within about a minute and a half.

But it's fun! And you feel totally invigorated! And allofasudden you're more brave and interesting than you were an hour before! It's the easiest shortcut to awesome that I've found recently. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

I've never done a polar plunge but I jumped into the swimming pool in Turkey at the end of October a few years ago and the water was that cold that it took my breathe away and my feet and hands were hurting by the time I'd swum back to the edge and got out.

I thought I was being so cool and such a dare devil then everyone laughed at me given how cold I was lol. Add to that, two other girls who were with us jumped in with me and then I had to rescue them as the cold water had scared them and they were both in a bit of a state.

I do the penguin plunge every year for the special olympics fundraiser. It is basically the same thing but we dive into the freezing cold ocean. It's really fun because everyone goes in waves, so you sprint into the ocean and then dive under and run back out! I am from New Hampshire so in the winter the water is brutal!

How incredibly random. I just did my first ever polar plunge on January 21. It was for charity. My boyfriend and I collected donations for the Special Olympics Ohio, then were rewarded by rushing into icy water. It didn't require swimming, though, as we only had to go up to our necks. I found the waiting-to-go-in period colder than the actual water part! I think it all happens so fast and is so exciting you don't even notice the cold. After getting out, it just feels like pins and needles in your legs. I then rushed into a heated tent to change and ta-da! I have a cool story, too. Haha.

I love how organized and safe it seems there! I'd totally do it there! I've not done it because here our options are to jump off a low bridge into water with currents. And rocks and hiding underwater logs.

My old high school has a tradition of all the final-year students jumping into the pool in the middle of winter (dressed up in crazy outfits of course!). It was so much fun! Freezing at first, then you get used to it a bit, and then everyone gets out and the younger students wrap you in warm towels and make you hot chocolate!

PRESS

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